Abstract [en]

Objective. To study and evaluate the effect of an information campaign in the form of a brochure on urinary incontinence (UI) directed towards the general public, concerning knowledge, individual health behaviour, self-reported healthcare utilization and how the information was perceived.

Material and methods. Within a community in central Sweden a random sample of the population, in age groups from 18 years upwards, was selected from the population registry, resulting in a total sample of 3658 people. The study group was sent the brochure "Treatment of urinary incontinence", produced by SBU (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care) in March 2003 and a questionnaire 1–2 months after the brochure was received.

Results. The overall response rate was 47.5%. Eighty per cent of the responders stated UI as an important health problem in society and 66% that they had gained new knowledge on UI. Twenty-eight per cent of the responders reported a current or previous history of UI, of whom 49% felt that they had received useful information for self-treatment and 21% had begun self-treatment.

Conclusion. This population-based study found that the distribution of a brochure on UI to the general public was well received and can be an efficient method to spread knowledge and encourage self-management.

Franzén, Karin

Örebro University, School of Health and Medical Sciences.

2011 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)

Abstract [en]

Urinary Incontinence is a common health problem that can cause both severe medical and social problems, resulting in negative impact on different aspects of Quality of Life. In 2000, the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU) published a systematic review, “Treatment of Urinary Incontinence” where multiple knowledge gaps in the field of UI, all of considerable clinical importance, were pointed out.Several of these knowledge gaps have been the starting points for the projects in this thesis. The overall aim has been to study the impact of different interventions for urinary incontinence in women on the population level but also on the patient group level, for assessessing the significance of UI on general living conditions and to validate instruments to measure quality of life to be used as part of the evaluation of treatment effectiveness.

Paper I: A population-based study where UI amongst women was found to be commonly associated with different psychosocial problems and an expressed feeling of vulnerability.

Paper II: A population-based study where informative material on UI to the general public in order to increase knowledge and encourage self management was found promising for meeting increasing demands and optimizing healthcare resources.

Paper III: A randomized controlled trial where both electrical stimulation and drug therapy reduced the number of micturitions and improved QoL in women with urge or urge incontinence, but electrical stimulation was not found to be superior to drug therapy.

Paper IV: A prospective cohort study where the international questionnaires UDI-6 and IIQ-7 after translation and validation, showed good responsiveness and were easy to administer and to fill out. The UDI-6 scale did not accomplish the same solid result in the psychometrical analysis as the IIQ-7 scale but both scales showed good responsiveness and can thereby be recommended for clinical use.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages

Örebro: Örebro university, 2011. p. 74

Series

Örebro Studies in Medicine, ISSN 1652-4063 ; 51

Keywords

Urinary incontinence, female, general living conditions, self-management, electrical stimulation, quality of life questionnaire